Rhodes scholar and football star encourages Trenton graduates

Myron Rolle, center, a former NFL football star, and Lamont Kelley, CEO of New Beginning Mentoring, pose with Trenton High School West students of the class 2013. The graduates were part of a special program that focused on the value of education. Trentonian Photo/CARLOS AVILA.

TRENTON — The New Beginning Mentors (NBM) program of Trenton is reaching out to area youth to teach them about proper relationships, proper etiquette values and gang awareness. Lamont Kelley, chief executive officer of NBM, is hoping to prevent young people between the ages of 9-21 from straying into a life of drugs and violence.

NBM partners with various local businesses and personalities to deliver their values message, but on Tuesday morning they had Myron Rolle speak to the Trenton High School West Class of 2013.

Rolle, a 2006 graduate of The Hun School in Princeton, played college football earning the Heisman Trophy before being picked by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth-round of the NFL draft. Shortly after his career started with the team, he was accepted as a Rhodes Scholar and was off to Oxford, England to continue his studies toward a career in medicine. Upon receiving his master’s degree at Oxford, he returned stateside where the Pittsburgh Steelers picked him up on a delayed contract, allowing him to continue his medical studies. At the age of 25, he was force to make a choice and Rolle left sports for good to pursue his dream of career in medicine and philanthropy.

He spoke to more than 40 graduating seniors encouraging them to take control of their lives and education and be leaders.

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“I just wanted to speak goodness into their life, telling them that we need them to be strong leaders,” said Rolle.

Rolle also was named the second smartest athlete in sports. He graduated from Florida State as an exercise science major with a 3.75 GPA in less than 3 years. He started anti-obesity program that the U.S. Department of Interior adopted. Rolle is currently enrolled in medical school specializing in neurosurgery and not allowing money to become his main goal.

NBM helps its young graduates to learn how to speak properly and dress to impress. Byers Men’s Apparel, which sells suits in downtown Trenton, donated apparel for the young men of the program. Other business mentors include local DJ, Father Ramsey, Platinum Cuts and Balance Warrior, which both specialize in helping young men feel and look good.

“Our mission is to educated and empower our young men by using the words ‘please’ and ‘ thank you’, and display what a power suit looks like,” read a pamphlet of the program.